Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-13
A BAD RAILWAY WRECK.
A Passenger and Freight Train III Col
liSiOn Through Carelessness.
Nineteen People Roasted Alive, and
Many More Injured Seriously.

TIFFIN, Ohio, Jan. Am east-bound
freight, drawn by engine No. 726, while
running on an upgrade nine miles east
of here, and within half mile of the viii
lage of Republic, gave out and was un-
able to make the grade. The conductor
ran forward with a signal to flag the fast
rain. No. 3, of the Baltimore d Ohio,
which left New York at 8 a. N. yesterday
for Chicago, but it was too late The
fast train was less than quarter of a
mile distant, running at the rate of sixty
three miles per hour and it crashed into
the freight, wrecking both engines and
the baggage express, smoking and one
passenger car of the passenger train.
Within an almost increditable short space
of time the wreck was in flames, and the
injured passengers were being burned.
The passengers in the two sleepers and
one coach escaped, numbering about fif-
ty. Nineteen passengers IN the smoker
were all killed. One, an Irish migrant,
alone escaped from the smoker, but af-
terward died of his wounds, He dii
not give his ndme. The engineer of tDe
passenger jumped and escaped with a
dislocated knee. The fireman was PIN
ned between two beams, crushing his
hips He lived three mortal hours in
that position and then died. Nine char
red and blackened bodies, with the limbs
burned off were removed and laid in a
row on the floor of the undertaken room.
The sight WAS "A horrible one and there
was no resembi nee TO human bodies in
the remains, s least ten more are sup
posed TO have pr-ished and been entirely
burned up. There is nothing around the
bodies which can help to identify them.
Among those who persisted were;
Joseph Postlethwaite, aged 81, and his
two sons, Spencer and Henry, aged IS
and II respectively. He was from New
Martinsyille, w. Va, and was accompan
led by his wife and three other small
children the four latter being saved. They
were on their way to CnIllicothe, Mo, to
make that their home. All of Posthleth-
waite's money 81 400, was in his pocket
and was burned.
c. p. Bradley, of Up - street Wash
ington, D. c., a prominent knight of
Labor on his way West to lecture, was
held by the feet in the car, his body pro-
truding from the window II was i'm,
burned to death by inches. He gave his
watch and papers into the safekeeping
of others.
Baggagemaster W. Il. Gates, of New
ark, was the only man in his car, and he
was hurt in both legs, being badly cut by
splinters, and had an iron rod run throug
one leg,
Pierce the express messenger, was
burned to a crisp in his car.
NJ. H. Parke, whose address he did not
give when he bought his ticket, was
found wedged in the wreck and burned
to death. He had previously handed his
money and letters to one of the railroad
employees. His body was entirely con
sumed, as we're also those of several 9TH
ors whose names are not knowh and per-
haps never will be.
A Mr. Smith, os Benwood, w. Va, was
in the car next to the sD oker and was I'M
hurt. He says that the shock was not a
very great one. He was thrown from his
seat and thought the train had left the
traoh Nobody was very seriously hurt in
his coach beyond severe bruises, cuts and
burns.
Physicians were summoned from this
city and from Republic, and rendered eff
ficient services to the wounded. About
dozen persons were wounded in addition
to those of the killed, not mentioned
above, and have not been identified.
Prominent railway officials were present
and investigated the matter. It is impos-
sible to tell now who was to blame, but it
is learned that the engineer, fireman, and
the whole crew of the freight train was
drunk and negIectful of their duty. The
coroner of the county will make a full in
vestigation. The wounded were all re-
moved from the county as quickly as pos
sible by the railway officials.
In the undertaking establishment of
the little village, charred and blackened
beyond semblance to humanity, lie the
dishgured remains of nine of the victims,
burned dry, and without perceptible odor.
None of them could be recognized but
Postlethwaite and his two sons who were
found in a position which established
their identity